Glipizide is an oral rapid- and short-acting anti-diabetic medication from the sulfonylurea class. It is classified as a second-generation sulfonylurea, which means that it undergoes enterohepatic circulation. Second-generation sulfonylureas are both more potent and have shorter half-lives than the first-generation sulfonylureas. Glipizide acts by partially blocking potassium channels among beta cells of pancreatic islets of Langerhans.
By blocking potassium channels, the cell depolarizes which results in the opening of voltage-gated calcium channels. The resulting calcium influx encourages insulin release from beta cells. Glipizide, a second-generation sulfonylurea, has potent antidiabetic actions in patients with non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The effects of glipizide treatment on insulin sensitivity, glucose-mediated insulin secretion, and glucose utilization were measured…
